Snapshot Group DSVOL Load Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing snapshot function in storage systems experiences performance deterioration when the number of snapshots increases, as both the primary and secondary volumes share the same data storage volume, leading to increased I/O load and potential performance degradation.
Innovation Solution
The storage system determines if the I/O load on a snapshot group exceeds a threshold and increases the number of data storage volumes (DSVOLs) to distribute the load, thereby preventing performance deterioration by equalizing data distribution across multiple DSVOLs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the PVOL and SVOL share the same DSVOL, then the snapshot function can be implemented with simple structure, but the I/O performance deteriorates when the number of snapshots increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single shared DSVOL into multiple separate DSVOLs (first DSVOL and second DSVOL). The PVOL and SVOL are assigned to different DSVOLs based on I/O load conditions. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining simple snapshot structure while preventing I/O performance deterioration through load distribution across multiple storage volumes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of SVOLs increases for the same PVOL, then the snapshot capability is enhanced, but the I/O performance of PVOL and SVOL deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically switches between single DSVOL and multiple DSVOL configurations based on I/O load monitoring. When I/O load exceeds a threshold, the system transitions to using multiple DSVOLs for PVOL and SVOL. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to enhance snapshot capability while maintaining I/O performance by adjusting the storage configuration in response to changing workload conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A data store volume (DSVOL) for a snapshot group which is a group of the PVOL and one or more SVOLs for the PVOL is a data storage region where data of which a storage destination is one volume (VOL) of the snapshot group and meta-information of the data are stored, and the meta-information is information including address mapping between a reference source address which is an address of a position of the data in the snapshot group and a reference destination address which is an address of a position of the data in the DSVOL. A process of a storage system increases the number of DSVOLs in the snapshot group when an input/output (I/O) load on the snapshot group exceeds a threshold.